Amir Alan Vahab is one of New York’s most celebrated and distinguished composer / vocalists of Persian sacred and folk music. He sings in the traditional Persian style, which embodies millennia of the theoretical and mystical traditions of the ancient land of Iran. He has spent more than three decades perfecting his skills under the instruction of some of the most renowned and legendary masters of Persian music.

From a very young age, Amir Vahab knew that music would be his life-long passion. Born in Tehran, Iran, he began his vocal studies at the age of four, and later he was learning his first instrument, the delicate and ancient Persian tanbur. By his late teens, Amir Vahab was already an accomplished musician on such instruments as the setar, tar, ney and the daf. His dedication to music pushed him further to focus his time and energy in perfecting the Chogur.

Leaving Tehran in 1976 and moving first to London and then to Paris allowed Amir to both expand his education and his awareness of universal spiritual dimensions in music. After completing his degree in Linguistics at the University of Paris, he moved to Switzerland to study horology and jewelry design. In 1981, Amir Vahab moved to his current home of New York City. Here in New York, he established himself definitively as a professional musician, both in live shows and in recording studios. He has played before audiences ranging from select private shows to crowds of 6,000 people. In addition, he has composed eclectic music for theatre and film, and performed for Iranian-American Television and several world-music radio stations in the United States. His performances have been recognized world wide and have inspired many music students to appreciate the classical delicacy of the unique sounds created by the mystical instruments that he has mastered. Today, Amir has six albums to his credit, for many of which he is the composer as well as singer and player.

In his work, Amir Vahab tries first of all to illustrate the beauty of Iranian traditional music, which he believes is part of the global heritage, and needs to be both taught and preserved. Secondly, he has also attempted to take new approaches to traditional works in order to attract the young generation of music enthusiasts - a venture which has proven most successful.

Amir Vahab is currently studying western music and researching ethnomusicology. By becoming familiar with western music and the works of major composers and performers, he aims to enhance his own works and creations. Amir feels a dialogue between civilizations is emerging in his work, which allows a comparative perspective between Middle Eastern and Western music traditions, both classic and modern. Amir Vahab believes that the possibility of cross-fertilization exists, from which both traditions can benefit.

“Music should be so powerful such that one is powerlessly dragged to the unknown. It should invade the listener’s mind to the point of losing awareness.”
-Amir Vahab

SOROOSH ENSEMBLE:
Soroosh Ensemble was formed by Amir Vahab in New York City in 1981 to perform both the mystical music of the Sufis and the folkloric music of Iran (drawing particularly from Kurdish, Turkish, Lurish, Armenian and other sources). The aim of Soroosh Ensemble is to draw the listener’s attention to the spiritual dimension of existence. The ensemble, whose name means “Messenger Angel”, features Mr. Vahab (voice, tanbur, chogur, setar, tar, daf, ney) and a rotating group (of over 40 people) that draws from musicians of diverse national and ethnic backgrounds, chosen depending on the focus of the performance.

VENUES PERFORMED::

Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
Alternative Museum, New York City
Armenian Iranian Society, Queens, NY
Asia Society Museum, New York City
Bay Front Park, Miami, Florida
Boston Common Park, Boston
Bowery Poetry Club, New York City
Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York
Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Connecticut
Calvary Center for Culture & Community
Carnegie Hall, New York City
Central Park, New York City
Chateau Briand, Carle Place, NY
Children Museum, New York City
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, NYC
City College, New York City
City Lore, New Jersey
City Lore, New York City
Columbia University, New York City
Community Church of Hoboken, New Jersey
Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, Long Island
Dae Dong Manor, 150-24 Northern Blvd.Flushing, NY
Dance Theater of Harlem, Manhattan
Dehkadeh Javanan, Queens, New York
Dhaka Club, Queens, New York
Drom, New York City
Duke University, North Carolina
East West event and bookstore
Embassy of Libya, New York City
French Institute/Alliance Francaise, New York City
Fashion Institute of Technology, NY
Fiesta, New Jersey
FM 90.1 Live Radio show
Garrison Institute, New York
Golden Festival, Manhattan, NY
Good Shepherd Church, New York City
Great Neck Library, NY
Greenwich School, Connecticut
Harie Bains School, New Jersey
Hilton Hotel, New York City
Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC
Hunter College High School, New York City
Hunter College, New York University
Jewish Museum, New York City
J.F.K. School Auditorium, Great Neck, L.I.
John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Knitting Factory, NY
Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn
La MaMa Theater, New York University
Lincoln Center, New York City
Makor, Manhattan, New York City
Manhattan Center, New York City
Marymount College, NYC
Metropolitan Montessori
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), New York City
Museum of Jewish Heritage
My Moon, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
New School University, NYC
New York Open Center, New York City
New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York City
New York University, Canto Auditorium, New York City
New York University, Kemmil Center Auditorium, New York City
New York University, Siver Building, New York City
Noor va Danesh, Rutherford, NJ
Nova Ernes Cultural Center, Virginia
NY Persian Parade, New York City
Old Westbury University, Long Island, New York
One Spirit Learning Alliance NYC
Orion Palaca, 2555 McDonald Ave. Brooklyn, NY
Passaic Community College, Paterson, NJ
Philadelphia Persian Society, Philadelphia, PA
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in L. I. C.
Public Theatre, Manhattan
Queens Council on The Arts, Queens, New York
Queens Library, Queens, NY
Queens Theatre, Flushing, NY
Rutgers University, New Jersey
Santosha Center for the Arts
School #3 West New York, New Jersey
Shabahang Center, Philadelphia, PA
Sheraton Hotel, Mahwah, New Jersey
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
SOB'S, New York City
South Paw, Brooklyn, NY
St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City
St. John's University, Qeens, NY
Stony Brook University, Wang Center, L. I. NY
Sufi Books, New York City
SUNY Old Westbury, Long Island, NY
Symphony Space, New York City
Tanbour Institute, New York City
Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, NY
Terrace on the Park, Queens NY
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NY
The Community Church, New York City
The Great Neck Library, Great Neck, New York
The Milagro Theatre, New York City
The National Arts Club, New York City
Turkish Consulate, New York City
Turkish Cultural Center, New York City
United Nations, New York City
United Nations International School, New York City
United Synagogue of Hoboken, NJ
Walter Family Jewish Community Campus, North Southbury
Washington Square Church, New York City
Yale University, CT
Yoga Center, 400 East 14 Street
92Y TRIBECA, New York City